​​Notice Regarding Long Overdue Materials
The library system charges replacement costs for items more than 30 days overdue. Accounts with a balance of $10 or more will be prevented from borrowing or renewing materials until resolved. A service fee may apply.

Questions? Please speak with a staff member.
​Overdue Items

The library charges 20 cents per day per item to a maximum charge of $6 per item on the following overdue cataloged materials:

  • Audio cassettes
  • Books
  • Kits
  • Video cassettes
  • Compact discs
  • DVDs
  • Blu-ray discs
  • Software

The library automated system calculates at 20 cents per day to a maximum of $6.

The library charges $1 per hour up to a maximum of $999 per item for overdue reference materials.

The library charges $2 per day up to $20 per kit for overdue book discussion kits.

Notice of Overdue Charges

Upon checkout, library staff will notify the patron if there are overdue charges on the account. The patron has the option of paying immediately or waiting until another library visit.

An automated notification system contacts patrons about overdue materials by telephone or email. Patrons may select their preference of notification method. With email notification, patrons are notified three days before the item is due. 

If items are not returned email and telephone notifications will occur when:

  • Items are Five days overdue
  • Items are 10 days overdue
  • Items are 15 days overdue

Patron will not be able to check out library materials if $10.00 or more is owed on the patron’s library account.

When 30 days overdue, an item goes to “lost” status and the replacement value of the item appears on the patron’s account.

The library contracts with an outside vendor for the recovery of library materials and fines and fees owed the library.

Library accounts with fines and/or fee of $10 or more will incur a $3 recovery fee that will be added to the account. This fee will not be waived. The process is as follows:

  • Fifteen days after the account balance total reaches between $10 and $24.99, the $3 recovery fee will be applied to the account and the account is sent to the recovery agency.
  • A letter on library letterhead requesting payment will then be sent out to the account holder via U.S. mail. Unless the account is paid down to a zero balance, the account holder will continue to be notified by the recovery agency.


If a patron owes $25 or more, the account will be referred to a materials recovery agency with the possibility of being credit reported. The process is as follows:

  • A letter on LCLS letterhead is sent via U. S. mail to the patron 15 days after the patron’s account reaches or exceeds $25 for any combination of charges for lost materials, overdue charges or other fees.
  • The letter advises the patron of the total amount owed and that a $10 long overdue charge (collection fee) has been added to the patron’s account.
  • If the patron pays off the account to a zero balance within 15 days of the date of the letter, staff may waive the collection fee.
  • If the account is not paid to a zero balance or special arrangements for payment have not been made with the library, the patron will continue to be notified by the materials recovery agency.
Payments

Patrons may make payments by:

  • Credit card online. A debit card with credit card logo also is acceptable.
  • Credit card at a public access computer (PAC) in the library - a debit card with credit card logo is acceptable.
  • Cash or check in person to a staff member at the library.
  • Check by U.S. mail to the address on the letter.
​Damaged Materials
Definition and Procedure

Major damaged material is that which cannot be repaired and must be discarded. A replacement fee is charged if the damaged item must be discarded. The fee for the damaged item remains on the patron’s record until it is paid.

Patrons will not be able to check out library materials if $10 or more is owed on the patron’s library account. Library accounts with fines and/or fee of $10 or more will incur a $3 recovery fee that will be added to the account. This fee will not be waived.

If a patron account has $25 or more overdue charges, fees, and/or lost materials, the library will send a letter advising that a $10 long overdue charge (collection fee) has been added to the account. If the patron clears the account of all charges within 15 days of the date of the letter, staff may waive the collection fee.

Fees For Damaged Items

The replacement fee for a damaged item is determined from the item record created when the item was acquired. If the price is not available in the item record, standard replacement prices for lost or damaged items are used. These prices are stated in the Lee County Internal/External Fees Manual Standard Replacement Prices list for library materials.

A patron may provide a replacement for damaged material if the replacement is an exact bibliographic match to the damaged material, for example the ISBN is an exact match and the replacement is in good to excellent condition.

The Lee County Internal/External Fees Manual includes the following fees for damaged parts of items:

  • Damaged AV case, including artwork insert $2 per AV item*
  • Damaged Playaway lanyard $1 per lanyard*
  • Damaged material processing (labels, cover, RFID tag) $1 per book or AV item* 

*Fee is for a single damaged part or multiple damaged parts of one book or AV item.

Payments

Patrons may make payments by:

  • Credit card online. A debit card with credit card logo also is acceptable.
  • Credit card at a public access computer (PAC) in the library - a debit card with credit card logo is acceptable.
  • Cash or check in person to a staff member at the library.
  • Check by U.S. mail to the address on the letter.
​Lost Items
Definition and Procedure

Library material enters “lost” status on a patron account when:

  • A patron advises library staff that an item can’t be found
  • An item has been overdue more than 30 days 

When an item is put into “lost” status, the replacement cost of the item will appear on the patron’s account.

The lost item will remain on the patron’s account until:

  • The item is returned
  • Replacement fees are paid

When the replacement cost for a lost item is paid and recorded in the patron’s account, no overdue charge is due on that item.

Patrons will not be able to check out library materials if $10 or more is owed on their account.

The library contracts with an outside vendor for material recovery. Library accounts with fines and/or fee of $10 or more will incur a $3 recovery fee that will be added to the account. This fee will not be waived. If a patron account has $25 or more in overdue charges, fees, and/or lost materials, the library will send a letter advising that a $10 long overdue charge (collection fee) has been added to the account. If the patron clears the account of all charges within 15 days of the date of the letter, staff may waive the collection fee.

A patron may provide a replacement for lost material if the replacement is an exact bibliographic match to the lost material. For example the ISBN is an exact match and the replacement copy is in very good to excellent condition.

Fees For Lost Items

The replacement fee for a lost item is determined from the item record created when the item was acquired. If the price is not available in the item record, standard replacement prices for lost or damaged items are used. These prices are stated in the Lee County Internal/External Fees Manual Standard Replacement Prices list for library materials.

The Lee County Internal/External Fees Manual also includes the following fees for lost parts of items:

  • Lost AV case, including artwork insert $2 per AV item*
  • Lost Playaway lanyard $1 per lanyard*
  • Missing processing labels, cover, and/or RFID tag $1 per book or AV item*

*Fee is for a single lost part or multiple lost parts of one book or one AV item.

Payments

Patrons may make payments by:

  • Credit card online. A debit card with credit card logo also is acceptable.
  • Credit card at a public access computer (PAC) in the library - a debit card with credit card logo is acceptable.
  • Cash or check in person to a staff member at the library.
  • Check by U.S. mail to the address on the letter.
​Need help?

Call us at 239-479-4636 to get help with your account during business hours.

​Did You Know?

You can register to vote at the library. Ask library staff for details.


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